The New Normal Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tess McCabe and Emma Clark Gratton
The podcast for multitasking parents - a casual discussion about everything and anything pertaining to life as working parents.
So. We know we said last year that we were too busy to keep doing regular episodes of the podcast, but that was before a pandemic rolled into town and our busy social lives (haha) were scaled right back. I mean... if there is ONE THING you want to arrange a playdate with your favourite mum friend to gossip about then isn't it how the world has been, like, grounded indefinitely?
In this special episode of the pod, Emma has some very cute 5-month-old news... plus we talk out all the highs and lows of staying at home with kids underfoot during COVID-19, as well as our best-of-2019/20 books, podcasts, shows, and more. It's like we never left your pod feed, and also never improved our remote-recording sound quality (soz... we blame the virus). Enjoy!
Reading
A Constant Hum by Alice Bishop
The Saturday Paper
The Ann Friedman Weekly
The Weekend by Charlotte Wood
Bruny by Heather Rose
Phosphorescence by Julia Baird
The Cut (online and the podcast)
Listening
Fake Heiress
How to Fail with Elizabeth Day
The Pineapple Project (Death series with Jan Fran)
Watching
Cheer (Netflix)
Sex Education (Netflix)
Fleabag (Amazon Prime)
Tiger King (Netflix)
Keep up to date with us online!
tessmccabe.com.au worsthousebeststreet.com thenewnormalpodcast.com
Insta: @thenewnormalpodcast @tessmccabe @emmaclarkgratton
Facey: facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast
All good things must come to an end. Yes, after a hopeful return to the pod earlier this year, the struggle of the juggle has won and we're setting our podcast aside - happy in the knowledge that we had a good five (FIVE!) years in your ears.
From the bottom of our hearts, we'd like to thank all of you who took the time with us to laugh, cry, fist-pump-in-the-air, do kegels, commiserate and celebrate all the highs and lows that come with parenting.
To those of you who we call dear friends; to those who we met through this podcast; to the guests who bravely shared your stories; and to those who simply liked, commented or listened in: THANK YOU! ALL OF YOU were loved and appreciated by us on this podcasting journey. We hoped we helped you feel less alone, or less ridiculous in your parenting overthinking, or at least recommended a good book or show or podcast or a way to get your kid to eat more broccoli.
Of course, we're not disappearing completely.
Here's where we will be now...
Tess' books: www.creativemindshq.com
Tess' eNewsletter, Sylloge (good recommends for reads/listens): www.creativemindshq.com/sylloge
Emma's blog: worsthousebeststreet.com
Emma/Lee's furniture business: grattondesign.com.au
And on Instagram:
@tessmccabe @emmaclarkgratton
Future podcasting adventures by either of us will be announced via the TNN feed, so don't worry about unsubscribing (unless you're Marie-Kondo'ing your feed, which we understand and applaud you for. Digital clutter is real, y'all.)
Big love, everyone. Keep going, you're doing great. xoxo T&E
We're back for 2019, after a rather strange and frequently stressful end to 2018! Yes, both Emma and Tess' spouses went under the knife late last year after sudden yet unrelated accidents (just a few weeks apart!). In this ep we digest the aftermath and take stock of what we learned. And we make up for lost time by sharing our summer reads and TV recommendations, PLUS, yet another (hopefully the last) update to Tess' Paid Parental Leave miniseries.
Tess' Paid Parental Leave (the background and November update)
TNN Episode 34 TNN Episode 40 November update (on Tess' instagram)
Reading
Becoming Michelle Obama
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
The Arsonist by Chloe Hooper
The Lost Man by Jane Harper
The Power by Naomi Alderman
Listening
The Dropout (Theranos podcast)
Watching
Bluey (for kids)
Barry (NOT for kids)
Last Chance Hotel (on iView)
Friends from College (on Netflix)
Party Down
PS...
We know our audio recording quality is a bit lacking, but if you love the content, give us some stars on iTunes if you can? What else is there to do when you're forced to sit on the sidelines during the kids' swimming lesson... ;) xx E&T
thenewnormalpodcast.com worsthousebeststreet.com tessmccabe.com.au
Insta: @thenewnormalpodcast @tessmccabe @emmaclarkgratton
Facey: facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast
Our newest podcast is with Victoria’s Small Business Commissioner Judy O’Connell who has TWO SETS OF TWINS faints.
This basically qualifies her to run the whole damn country, in our opinion.
Judy has had a long career in the public service, including as Assistant Commissioner at the Australian Tax Office, where she set up an in-house childcare centre. Throughout her career, Judy has been a champion for flexible work for both mums and dads, and for integrating family life with career.
She also told us all about the cool things the Victorian Small Business Commission does, including help with dispute resolution, tax requirements, mediation and advocating for small businesses.
So we've decided to change the focus of the podcast to be the Leigh Sales Appreciation Society. Just jokes, but seriously we do spend a fair bit of time this episode talking about Australia's leading current affairs anchor and the new book she's written about overcoming trauma. Other cheery topics include breast self-examinations and whether or not our kids should play with toy guns. Happy listening!
Reading:
The Nowhere Child by Christian White
Leigh Sales’ interview in Fairfax papers
Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales
Practising Simplicity (blog)
The Mental Load by Emma (not our Emma, a french Emma)
Watching:
Brooklyn 99
The Americans
Touch Your Tits
Listening:
ABC Kids News Time
Parent hack notes:
BioCeuticals Ultra Potent-C powder is the one Tess' kids like more than other brands
THANKS for the reviews and star ratings on iTunes! xx
Finding a way to turn a creative passion into a profitable business can be tricky, especially when you throw a family into the mix. Enter Maryanne Moodie, Insta-famous weaver and teacher, a magical unicorn who has managed to develop her creative expression into a thriving business and community.
If you’re a crafty type who enjoys a bit of interiors porn, there’s a strong chance you’ve seen Maryanne’s work. Her gorgeous textured weavings have inspired thousands of people to pick up some yarn and a loom, through her online and in-person weaving classes and her book On the Loom.
We explore Maryanne’s story from schoolteacher to entrepreneurial weaver, including how she managed moving to New York City for her husband’s dream job with their one-year-old son in tow.
Maryanne also shares a couple of great parenting hacks, including the toothbrushing podcast Chompers, the bedtime meditation for kid’s Bedtime Explorers.
It's Emma and Tess in your ears again with our recent book, pod and teev recommendations (for you AND your kids!). Yep, this episode we talk about a few kid-friendly podcasts on high rotation at home, plus revel in the wonder that is nature (documentaries). Then, thanks to a great listener suggestion, we discuss our policies on sleepovers and babysitting while our kids are still little. Enjoy!
Reading:
Teacher by Gabbie Stroud
Ache by Eliza Henry Jones
Lunchlady Magazine*
Listening:
Wowee Podcast
Married to a Maker
Future Women
Kids podcasts: Wow in the world; But Why; Pants on Fire; Brains On; Smash, boom, best; Story Pirates
Watching:
Planet Earth I & II
Glow (Netflix)
Sharp objects
*Tess' book Conversations with Creative Women (Vol 3), feat. an interview with Lunchlady's founders Louise Bannister and Lara Burke, can be found at creativemindshq.com, or your local bookshop :)
Find us elsewhere online:
Insta: @thenewnormalpodcast @emmaclarkgratton @tessmccabe
Twitter: @newnormalpod @emmamakesthings @tessmccabe
worsthousebeststreet.com tessmccabe.com.au
Beci Orpin needs no introduction: her work has been seen on everything from billboards and snowboards to food trucks and books. Beci and her partner Raph (of Beatbox Kitchen and All Day Donuts fame!) have built a creative empire, all while raising their two sons.
Many of our guests are still in the trenches with toddlers or preschoolers, so hearing Beci’s view on the tween and teen years is a balm for our exhausted souls. She describes how it does get easier (hurrah!) and the joy of seeing your kids grow up.
Beci also takes us behind the scenes into how she and Raph manage running their own businesses (tip: keep everything local!); how she designs, tests, produces and writes her books; and why she encourages independence in her kids.
We kick off this episode discussing what's been in our podcast feeds and TV queues, and you'd be right in thinking that recently we haven't been consuming them as an escape tactic from the realities of the big bad world. From The Handmaids Tale (no spoilers, promise) to Nanette; You Can't Ask That to Teacher's Pet; there is definitely a 'theme' to our recommendations this episode (so consider this a content warning!).
But it's not all dark... We talk about our approaches to introducing extra-curricular activities into our kids lives and what we've tried; and share some trusty parenting hacks as well. Enjoy!
Reading:
Mothermorphosis by Monica Dux
Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee
Watching:
Nanette - Hannah Gadsby's special (Netflix)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
Making Child Prodigies (ABC iView)
You Can’t Ask That (ABC iView)
Hidden Figures (film)
Listening:
Eyes on Gilead and Blessed Be The Fruit Salad (Handmaid's Tale S2 podcasts)
Teacher's Pet
Start Up S7 - Church Planters
Thanks to those of you who have recently rated & reviewed us on iTunes! We really appreciate it xx E&T
PS...
thenewnormalpodcast.com worsthousebeststreet.com tessmccabe.com.au
Insta: @thenewnormalpodcast @tessmccabe @emmaclarkgratton
Facey: facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast
For some, the path to parenthood is relatively straightforward. For others, it is more complicated, but no less joyful.
On this episode we talk to Jen Clark of Jen Clark Design and her partner Kirstie Innes-Will, managing editor at Black Inc. In 2014, Jen and Kirstie decided to help another local couple to complete their family, and ended up in their own modern-day fairytale.
Because life with a newborn isn't hard enough, their first year as parents was shadowed by the same-sex marriage survey, where the entire country passed judgement on the validity of their new family.
Jen and Kirstie generously share their story with us, but it's four women talking a mile a minute at a kitchen table, so apologies for our constant talking over one another!
In terms of shielding our pre-school and early primary school-age kids from the big bad world, we're kinda in a cosy bubble rn. But for how long? In this episode we talk about our own family rules for screen time and what we fear is awaiting us in the future; as well as the important conversations we're starting to have around consent and approaching strangers for help. Then - because it be freezing outside - we share some recent TV & film recommendations that you can curl up under a blanket to consume. Happy listening!
Reading:
Today’s masculinity is stifling from The Atlantic
My Underpants Rule (book for kids)
Watching:
Queer Eye (again) on Netflix
Consent for kids
A Cry in The Dark starring Meryl Streep (from the '80s)
Tully starring Charlize Theron (written by Diabolo Cody)
Creative Discipline talk on vimeo by Lou Harvey Zahra (Google her to find her books too!)
Have you rated/reviewed us on iTunes yet? Don't be shy! It helps other parents find our podcast. We'd love it if you did!! xx E&T
PS...
thenewnormalpodcast.com worsthousebeststreet.com tessmccabe.com.au
Insta: @thenewnormalpodcast @tessmccabe @emmaclarkgratton
Facey: facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast
Laura Vickers is a lawyer and mum of two who has carved out a niche for herself in the legal world with her practice Nest Legal based in Melbourne. She explains to us why it’s important to have the difficult conversations around who will look after your kids if you die, who gets your assets and what songs you want played at your funeral.
Her practice focusses on families, wills, tax and property conveyancing, and strives to be a family-friendly little hamlet in the decidedly unfamily-friendly legal world.
We learn that pre-nups are not as big a deal as we thought, that the wills you buy at the post office probably aren’t comprehensive enough and a handy recipe for Sausage Slurry, which ticks all our boxes for easy, fast, healthy and good for little tummies.
While admittedly this episode starts with a requisite debrief on the Royal wedding, if you're in need of some high quality TV series' and podcasts to get hooked into while the weather is chilly, this episode has heaps of our recent (or ol' favourite) recommendations. Then we delve into how and why Tess is trying (and so far failing) to make some new local mum friends, and share our friendship origin story, a.k.a that time when we awkwardly met at a cafe having read eachother's blogs and stalked eachother online. Plus we offer some parenting hacks and a few chuckles. Enjoy!
Reading:
Every Decision My Kids Made Me Make In One Day Small Acts of Disappearance by Fiona Wright Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia de Rossi
Watching:
Supernanny (Youtube) The Handmaid’s Tale (SBS) - no spoilers! Safe Harbour (SBS) Love My Way Wildside Seven Types of Ambiguity The Beautiful Lie
Listening:
Ladies, We Need To Talk (new season) The Habitat Hillary Clinton on Conversations
Have you rated/reviewed us on iTunes yet? Don't be shy! It helps other parents find our podcast. We'd love it if you did!! xx E&T
PS...
thenewnormalpodcast.com worsthousebeststreet.com tessmccabe.com.au
Insta: @thenewnormalpodcast @tessmccabe @emmaclarkgratton
Facey: facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast
If this bumper episode sounds like you’re eavesdropping on three friends who haven’t seen each other in a while, then that’s exactly what it is.
We catch up with past guest Lorelei Vashti (author of How to Choose Your Baby’s Last Name: A Handbook for New Parents) who we first spoke to way back in episode 27. Lorelei generously shares all about her two very different home births, dealing with birth trauma and what help is out there for parents who may be struggling.
The birthing course that Lorelei mentioned is through Birthing Wisdom by Rhea Dempsey.
The anti-anxiety weighted blanket that Emma raves about it is from Calming Moments.
If you or another parent you know is struggling with emotional wellbeing, you can call PANDA on 1300 726 306.
A LOT of random ground in covered in this episode, featuring Emma & Tess chit chatting about recent reads and audiovisual consumption. Cults, cold case murder investigations, stars without makeup, wills, Beyonce... See? Plus, a discussion about asking for flexibility at your workplace before/after you've been offered a new job; and two parenting hacks that that will make you a whole lot less frustrated by the minutiae of daily parenting life! :D
Reading:
Ordinary People by Diana Evans Zero Fucks Cookbook by Yumi Stynes 7 Damaging Parenting Behaviors That Keep Children From Growing Into Leaders Guide to pre-death life admin
Watching (all on Netflix):
Love The Keepers Wild Wild Country
Listening:
In The Loop podcast
Hey, if you have a minute, please rate and or review us on iTunes? It helps other parents scrolling through their phones for mental relief at the end of a long day find our podcast. Thanks in advance!! xx E&T
PS...
thenewnormalpodcast.com worsthousebeststreet.com tessmccabe.com.au
Insta: @thenewnormalpodcast @tessmccabe @emmaclarkgratton
Facey: facebook.com/thenewnormalpodcast
It seems unbelievable that after 58 episodes, this is the first one where we have deep-dived into IVF. Fertility issues affect one in six couples, and more than 70,000 IVF cycles are performed in Australia each year.
But photographer Jess Reftel-Evans came to IVF for a different reason to most people: Jess has a genetic condition that she didn’t want to pass onto her offspring. She answers all our nosey questions about egg harvesting and HCF levels, and graciously puts up with us exclaiming, ‘Oh my God!’ every few seconds.
We also chat about celebrity pregnancies (Janet Jackson fell pregnant at 50!?!) giving false hope to regular women, maintaining a relationship through IVF and how much parenting is like having a dog: kids eat food off the floor, require a lot of walks and will poo anywhere. Some even require leashes!
Only a privileged few have ever set eyes on Tess' weekly meal plan, but in this episode the origin and power of this document is revealed once and for all (and it's actually super easy for you to try for yourself!). Also, we talk about the books and podcasts we've been consuming, and offer a couple of parenting hacks including one that will make bathtime easier, and one that will make you a fancy free human adult who enjoys midday movies and long lunches with your lover.
READING
Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
WATCHING
She-Ra (Netflix)
Better Things (Foxtel)
Becoming Warren Buffett (on YouTube)
LISTENING
Auspicious Plastic podcast by Megan Spencer
Where Should We Begin podcast with Esther Perel (Season 2)
Episode 57 is a special one. Instead of our usual mix of recommendations, updates and banter, we dedicate the entire episode to the stillbirth of Emma's daughter Edie in October last year. Her due date was last Saturday.
We discuss what happened, what helped and where to from here, including how you can help someone in similar circumstances.
You can find more of Emma's writing about her experience at her blog.
This probably isn't an episode for little ears, or if you are feeling a little tender.
It’s another episode chock-full of recommendations to make your sleep-deprived mind at least a little stimulated with culture. But ah, who are we kidding, we also spend a fair bit of time talking about the Belle Gibson saga. Later, Emma shares her experience attending speech therapy with her 5-year-old for the last few years, and we trade some parenting hacks we’ve only recently devised since becoming mums what seems like 400 years ago. Enjoy!
Reading: The Woman Who Fooled The World: Belle Gibson’s Cancer Con by Nick Toscano and Beau Donelly Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey and The Sun and Her Flowers Ellen van Neervan’s Comfort Food
Listening: Death Sex Money podcast miniseries ‘Opportunity Costs’ Bang On with Myf and Zan The Pineapple Project
Watching (on Netflix): Black Mirror non-scary episodes e.g. s3e1 and s4 eps 1 & 4 Joan Didion documentary The Centre Will Not Hold
Episode 55 is here, AKA the one where Emma learns that essential oils aren’t made from squashed flowers, Tess finally watches the Handmaid’s Tale and we talk about staying connected to a partner after a stillbirth.
Also, Tess tells us what she learned at a first aid course for parents (hint: it's both helpful and terrifying) and we accept that broken limbs are probably part of our future.
READING
The Case Against Fragrance by Kate Grenville
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Buddhism for Mothers with Lingering Questions by Sarah Napthali
Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff
WATCHING
The Letdown - Alison Bell, Sasha Horler,
The Handmaid’s Tale
Lovesick on Netflix
Dark Net on Netflix
LISTENING
The Butterfly Effect by Jon Ronson
Esther Perel on The Longest Shortest Time
The Guilty Feminist
BONUS RECOMMENDATION
The Ordinary skincare